Shock absorber



Patented. Nov. 2L 1922.

@@@QQQQQ l Patented Nov. 2l, i922.

S PATENT @FFTCE WALTER G. BLACK. OF WHITTIER. CALIFORNIA.

SHOCK ABSORBER.

Application filed October 3, 1921. Serial No. 504,959.

To (1N lr/m/p lif may] concern:

Be it known that l. isi/ran (ii. BLACK, a citizen ot' the l'nited States. residing at Yhittieiz county ot' Los Angeles. and State ot' talit'ornia` have invented a new and useful Shoclv' Absorber, ot which they following frs-is a specification.

aadapted to use between interconnected ob- --Jects to allevlatc the transmission ot shocks,

due to the sudden application of torce Jfrom on'e object to the. other. and is particularly applicable to use on automobiles.

t is an objecty ot' my invention to provide a shock :bsorber in which will be combined the positivem-ss of action rendered by springs and the flexibility and smoothness of an air cushion.

It is a further object ot' my invention to provide in a device of this character means which will absorb those shocks due to recoil, as well as the initial shocks. y

It is also a further object ot my invention to provide in a shock absorber of this type afJmeans ot regulating the adjustment of the spring elements thereof, thus readily adaptx mg my invention to different conditions ot loading.

Other objects and advantages will be made evident hereinafter.

Referring to the drawing which is for illustrative purposes only,

Fig. l is a vertical sectional View of a shock absorber. embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the plane represented by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an incorporated section taken on a plane represented by the line 3-B, and looking in the direction ot the appended arrows.

Fig. 4i is a section taken on aplane represented by the line 4--4 of F ig. 1.

As shown in the drawings, I employ a barrel 11, adapted to be suitably mounted by a trame extension 12 of an automobile chassis in which barrel there operates a piston to which the relief spring 1t may be attached`4 as shown at 15` thus providing a sensitive resilient connection between the spring 14 and the chassis 12, in order that sudden shocks applied through the wheels to the spring may be minimized in their transmission to the chassis.

The barrel. 11 is provided with a tightly itting cap 20, and near the lower end thereof is formed interiorly a ring 21 through which operates a cup 22 having screwed upon the upper end thereof a ring 23 of the Same diameter thc interior of the barrel. This manner of constructing the piston 13 makes it possible to surround the cup 22 with a spring 24 which will act in compression between the ring 21. formed upon the interior of the barrel ll. and the ring 23, mounted by the cup thus resisting the relatively downward movement ot the piston 1l` as occurs in the recoil ot the spring 14 after its being compressed by the application ot` Vforce due to striking an obstruction.

Centrally extending within the barrelI 11 is a shaft 30 upon which is threaded a nut 31. The shaft 30 extends through a hole 32 provided therefor in the head 20. and uponthe external threaded portion 33 thereot' is placed a locking nut 3 -1 mount-ing a suitable cap Extending between the nut 31 and the bottom 38 of the cup 22 is a compression spring 40. having outwardly heut ends 41 and 42 which fit into recesses in the bottom 38 and the nut 31 to prevent' any relative rotation ot the members between which, the spring exerts its pressure.

A collar 45 transfers the force exerted by the spring 40 to the head 2l). Thus it will be seen that the spring et() serves in compression as a flexible support between the chassis extension 12 and the spring 14. Upon the upper face 50 of the piston 13 mount a cup vwasher 5l. securing same in place by the use of a ring 52 and screws 53 which Jfurther serve to preventthe ring 23 from becon'iing unscrewed from the cup 22.

When a force is -tbruptly applied upwardly to the cup 22 from the spring 14, the iiexibility of the spring 1() allows the piston 13 to move relatively upward toward the barrel head 20. The air contained in the chamber 60, formed between the head 2() and the piston, is compressed and exerts a resisting torce with the spring 40 in overcoming the Jforce of the shock, After the 'torcepressive action and absorbs the shock that would otherwise be produced by the unrestrained recoil of the spring 40 and the body of air compressed in the chamber 60,

The initial compression ot' the spring if) may be adjusted to suit the conditions oi loading, without the necessity of dismantling the shock absorber further than unscrewing the nut 34, from the externally projecting portion 33 of the shaft 30. By the use ot' a wrench upon the flat sides (33 ol' the projection 33 the sha't't 30 ma \7 be revolved to cause the movement of the nut 31 therealong. After the initial compression ot the spring- 40 isproperly adjusted. the nut 34 is again screwed upon the projection 33 and the sha t't 30 locked against turning.

A particular feature of my invention resides in the novel combination ot' a compressible spring and a body7 ot air which may be subjected to compression therewith, thus providing a positiveness ot' action as well as considerable iiexibility.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a shock absorber, the combination of: a barrel; means Jor attaching said barrel to the chassis of an automobile; a head closing one end of said barrel; a piston operative within said barrel having integral therewith a cup extending in a direction opposite to said head; means for attaching said piston to a spring of an automobile: a circular ring formed upon the inside of said barrel and surrounding said cup; aspring acting between said piston`and said ring to resistlthe movement of said piston away from said head; a spring acting between said head and the bottom of said cup to resist the movement of said piston toward said head; means for varying the initial compression in said last named spring; and means associated with said piston to prevent the escape of enclosed air from between said piston and said head, thus providing an air cushion.

2. In a shock absorber, the combination of: a barrel; means for attaching said barrel to the chassis of an automobile; a head closing one end of said barrel; a piston operative within said barrel having integral therewith a cup extending in a direction opposite to said head; means for attaching said piston to a spring of an automobile; a circular ring formed upon the inside of said barrel and surrounding said cup; a spring acting between said piston and said ring to resist the. movement of said piston away from said head; a shaft turnably extending through said head and having threads toi-med upon that portion extending within said barrel; a nut upon said threaded portion ot' said shaft;A a spring acting between said nut andthe bottom of saidcup to resis the movement ot said piston toward saiy bead: means t'or turning said shaft to eaus the movement of said nut therealong; and means associated with said piston to prevent the escape ot' enclosed air from between said piston and said head, thus providing an air cushion.

$3. In a shock absorber. the combination of: a barrel; means for attaching said barrel to the chassis of an automobile; a head closing one end ot said barrel; a piston operative within said barrel having integral therewith a cup extending in a direction opposite to said head; means for attaching said piston to a spring of an automobile; a cireular ring formed upon the inside of said barrel and surrounding said cup; a spring acting between said piston and said ring to resist the movement ofl saidpiston away from said head; a shaft turnably extending through said head and having threads formed upon that portion extending Within said barrel; a nut upon said threaded portion of said shaft; a spring acting between saidi nut and the bottom of said cup to resist the, movement of said-piston toward said head; means for turning said shaft to cause the movement of said nut therealong; means for locking said shaft in any position of adjustment; and means associated withy said piston to prevent the esc-ape of enclosed air `from between said piston and said head,

thus providing an air cushion.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 23d day of Sept., 1921.

WALTER G. BLACK'. 

